The San Diego Chargers have worked out Marcus Mariota head of the NFL draft and while the team is interested in him, they likely will not trade Philip Rivers to get a deal done with the Tennessee Titans to move up in the first round from the number 17 pick to the number two selection, as the Titans are asking for more than the Chargers are willing to give up.
According to the MMQB, Peter King writes that the deal to the Titans with Rivers is basically dead and that the two sides will not work out a trade ahead of the draft. The teams could pick back up on things on draft day, but King writes that the Chargers are not willing to give up as much as the Titans want, even with Rivers in the deal.
The Browns, Bears and Jets have also shown interest in Mariota and the Titans could consider those options. According to ESPN.com, the Chargers are looking at running backs after Ryan Mathews left in free agency and that is a primary concern for the team. Names like Melvin Gordon, Jay Ajayi and Duke Johnson are potential targets.
Mariota is considered to be the number two rated quarterback by most scouts behind Jameis Winston and he has had numerous workouts ahead of the draft. It was reported last week that the Chargers had a meeting for Mariota and according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the went well. Mike McCoy has a strong offensive system and while Rivers has played well the past couple years, he is coming into the last year of his deal.
The Chargers have the 17th pick in the first round of the draft, so any interest in Mariota would have to lead to a trade if they want to draft him. The Chargers are one of numerous teams that has had reported interest in Mariota, with the NY Jets, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears mentioned as potential landing spots. The Chargers have Philip Rivers as the franchise quarterback, but is future is a bit up in the air, as he is coming into the final year of his contract.
The interest in Mariota does not mean the Chargers will be trading Rivers or even will explore it, but if he is not included and the team moves up, it would be for a huge package of picks. Rivers said to the media last month that he was comfortable playing out his deal in San Diego and that could leave the door open for a move. Rivers has a connection to head coach Ken Whisenhunt, as he was the offensive coordinator for the Chargers in 2013.
The Titans have the cap space to handle the $17 million hit for Rivers and the quarterback had completed a career high 69 percent of his passes playing under Whisenhunt. Rivers threw for 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions that season with over 4000 yards and the Titans have a need at the position and have not had a franchise QB for years. The Chargers could keep Rivers and go for Mariota, but after what the Redskins gave up for the chance to draft RG3, the package will have to include multiple first round picks.
